Number of child deaths in United States of America
United States of America: Number of child deaths was 23,685 deaths in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
23,685 deaths
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
40th
of 199 countries
All-time high
133,256 deaths
in 1955
All-time low
23,685 deaths
in 2024
Years of data
70
1955–2024
Number of child deaths in United States of America, 1955–2024
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of child deaths in United States of America is 23,685 deaths, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 70 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of child deaths in United States of America peaked at 133,256 deaths in 1955 and was at its lowest, 23,685 deaths, in 2024.
United States of America ranks 40th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of child deaths in United States of America, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 133,256 deaths | — |
| 1956 | 132,771 deaths | -0.4% |
| 1957 | 133,181 deaths | +0.3% |
| 1958 | 133,055 deaths | -0.1% |
| 1959 | 131,898 deaths | -0.9% |
| 1960 | 130,144 deaths | -1.3% |
| 1961 | 128,296 deaths | -1.4% |
| 1962 | 124,627 deaths | -2.9% |
| 1963 | 119,767 deaths | -3.9% |
| 1964 | 115,392 deaths | -3.7% |
| 1965 | 109,122 deaths | -5.4% |
| 1966 | 101,777 deaths | -6.7% |
| 1967 | 95,812 deaths | -5.9% |
| 1968 | 91,290 deaths | -4.7% |
| 1969 | 88,985 deaths | -2.5% |
| 1970 | 88,228 deaths | -0.9% |
| 1971 | 84,530 deaths | -4.2% |
| 1972 | 76,853 deaths | -9.1% |
| 1973 | 69,975 deaths | -8.9% |
| 1974 | 65,918 deaths | -5.8% |
| 1975 | 62,645 deaths | -5.0% |
| 1976 | 59,563 deaths | -4.9% |
| 1977 | 58,002 deaths | -2.6% |
| 1978 | 56,662 deaths | -2.3% |
| 1979 | 55,420 deaths | -2.2% |
| 1980 | 54,711 deaths | -1.3% |
| 1981 | 53,406 deaths | -2.4% |
| 1982 | 52,018 deaths | -2.6% |
| 1983 | 50,535 deaths | -2.9% |
| 1984 | 49,075 deaths | -2.9% |
| 1985 | 48,287 deaths | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 47,496 deaths | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 46,725 deaths | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 46,436 deaths | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 46,344 deaths | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 45,994 deaths | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 44,722 deaths | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 42,778 deaths | -4.3% |
| 1993 | 40,720 deaths | -4.8% |
| 1994 | 38,711 deaths | -4.9% |
| 1995 | 36,881 deaths | -4.7% |
| 1996 | 35,377 deaths | -4.1% |
| 1997 | 34,228 deaths | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 33,509 deaths | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 33,084 deaths | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 32,934 deaths | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 32,698 deaths | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 32,243 deaths | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 32,114 deaths | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 32,106 deaths | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 32,007 deaths | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 32,163 deaths | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 32,301 deaths | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 31,808 deaths | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 30,793 deaths | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 29,580 deaths | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 28,550 deaths | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 27,885 deaths | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 27,357 deaths | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 27,056 deaths | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 26,841 deaths | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 26,443 deaths | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 25,854 deaths | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 25,225 deaths | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 24,746 deaths | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 24,126 deaths | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 23,804 deaths | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 24,073 deaths | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 24,003 deaths | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 23,685 deaths | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 132,832 deaths | 131,898 deaths | 133,256 deaths | 5 |
| 1960s | 110,521 deaths | 88,985 deaths | 130,144 deaths | 10 |
| 1970s | 67,780 deaths | 55,420 deaths | 88,228 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 49,503 deaths | 46,344 deaths | 54,711 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 38,600 deaths | 33,084 deaths | 45,994 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 32,117 deaths | 30,793 deaths | 32,934 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 26,954 deaths | 24,746 deaths | 29,580 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 23,938 deaths | 23,685 deaths | 24,126 deaths | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More health data for United States of America
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate -1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per capita 0.0333 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, annual growth rate -1.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per capita 0.0357 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of child deaths in United States of America?
- Number of child deaths in United States of America was 23,685 deaths in 2024, according to United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of child deaths recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 133,256 deaths in 1955.
- What is the lowest number of child deaths recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 23,685 deaths in 2024.
- How does United States of America rank for number of child deaths?
- United States of America ranks 40th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of child deaths rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States of America data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of child deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths of children aged under 5 .